Winter moths eating our trees

DEM releasing parasite fly to eat them
The good news is the flies eat the caterpillars; the bad news is that then we have all these f*****g flies

PROVIDENCE - The Department of Environmental Management reports that winter moth caterpillars are prevalent throughout Rhode Island and are causing defoliation on oak, maple, ash, basswood, elm, beech and fruit trees.

According to Bruce Payton, state forester and deputy chief of DEM's Division of Forest Environment, communities across the state reported the emergence of millions of winter moths, Operophtera brumata, from late November through December.

"It is no coincidence that, in the spring, these same communities are seeing an astonishing number of caterpillars defoliating deciduous trees," he said. The tremendous growth of the caterpillar population has affected the entire state. Leaves on affected trees are filled with small holes and have a shotgun-hole appearance.

Winter moth caterpillars are pale green with white longitudinal stripes running down both sides of the body. Also referred to as "loopers" or "inchworms," they are often found in association with both fall and spring cankerworms, which look similar and have similar feeding patterns.

Payton said that heavily defoliated trees will be stressed, and that the trees must put out a second flush of growth in order to survive. Water is critical to trees at this time. Supplemental watering of trees will be necessary if drought conditions occur. Fertilizer application is not recommended at this time for trees that have been defoliated.

In an effort to control the winter moth population, researchers from DEM in conjunction with URI and Joseph Elkinton, PhD of the University of Massachusetts Amherst released a parasitoid fly that feeds exclusively on winter moth in early May in several Rhode Island communities.

Cyzenis albicans - eats winter moths

This is the third year that this parasite has been released in the state; the hope is that it will become established and eventually act as a control agent for the winter moth population. A natural enemy of the winter moth, Cyzenis albicans has been effective in mitigating large populations of winter moths in Nova Scotia.

However it will take several years for populations of the parasite to catch up with the population and spread of winter moths. 

DEM's Division of Forest Environment is tracking the areas where winter moth infestations are most prevalent in the state and is asking the public to report instances where trees are heavily defoliated. The location, along with a contact name and phone number can be emailed to Bruce Payton at bruce.payton@dem.ri.gov or Paul Ricard at paul.ricard@dem.ri.gov.